Charlie Brooker on Japan

I love Brooker. All that cynicism and abject resignation that life is truly terrible. He's written a charming article for The Guardian on how baffling he is finding Japan. Although I do wonder as to the level of real insight he has gained so far into Japanese culture, as his time in the country appears to have been spent contemplating toilets and cable television (actually quite typical of Brooker in general, the two areas often converge). Humorous nonetheless:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/22/charlie-brooker-japan-another-planet  

Ken Hom

Who doesn't love Ken Hom? He's one of the first chefs to popularise authentic Chinese food in Britain, in honour of Chinese New Year The Guardian has published firstly a live chat with the chef and a few of his recipes including ones for chilli pork spare ribs and fish in hot sauce. Haochi!

Man Asian Literary Prize

I'm going to challenge myself to read all seven of the shortlisted books over the year. The world is far too small to not know more about other cultures.

• Amitav Ghosh- River of Smoke
• Banana Yoshimoto- The Lake
• Jahnavi Barua- Rebirth
• Jamil Ahmed- The Wandering Falcon
• Yan Lianke- Dream of Ding Village
• Rahul Bhattacharya- The Sly Company of People Who Care
• Kyung-Sook Shin- Please Look After Mom

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/gallery/2012/jan/12/man-asian-literary-prize-2011-in-pictures  

Asian Art Investment Boom

 Here is an interesting article from The Guardian that describes the continued buoyancy of the Chinese art market as collectors see art (as well as other luxury items like wine and diamonds) as a steady investment as well as an aesthetic pleasure.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2011/dec/18/asian-art-investment-boom

Collecting china: bagging a bargain

The Guardian's House and Home blog has published the next installment of its Collecting china blog this time on buying pieces from charity shops.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/house-and-homes-blog/2011/nov/24/collecting-china-bagging-a-bargain?INTCMP=SRCH  

Korean Film

Are you a Korean film fan? Honestly I have seen far more Japanese cinema than Korean but I did enjoy A Tale of Two Sisters. I think watching a movie is an easy way to get a glimpse of another culture. Take British film for instance, and especially the likes of The King's Speech (I really did enjoy it. I, at heart, am a monarchist) which really shows us up for what we are. A nation obsessed by both World Wars and the apparently irremovable class system. Here is an interesting article in The Guardian discussing the state of Korean film and how reflective it is of their society:

Do South Koreans actually love film?

Matchmaking

Ever tried a dating site? Well in Shanghai the Chinese have taken matchmaking and made it into a big day out:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/13/shanghai-matchmaking-event-huge-crowds

How to make sushi

Gosh I do love The Guardian. Here's a link they've put up on how to make sushi at home. I've made attempts before, but I never get the rice quite right. On the side bar there are also videos for tempura and miso soup! Yum!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2011/nov/07/how-to-make-sushi-video

Collecting china: how to buy from eBay

Another article in The Guardian's House and Home blog about collecting ceramics, this time about the perils of buying online.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/house-and-homes-blog/2011/nov/07/collecting-china-guide-to-ebay

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I've just read a really interesting piece on The Guardian's Women's blog about this new film Snow Flower and the Secret Fan adapted from the book by Lisa See. I vastly enjoyed another of the See's books Peony in Love. SFSF is about the life long friendships and the usage of Nushu, a written language used solely by women in Hunnan province. The Memoirs of a Geisha perhaps?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/the-womens-blog-with-jane-martinson/2011/nov/03/china-secret-women-only-language

Tokyo day by Day by Paul Church

The Guardian again has thrown up a gem. This time it's an article about Paul Church who has taken some really smashing photos of Tokyo, whilst there on a martial arts course. You can read his blog and see all of his pictures here.

 

(photo taken from http://blipfoto.com/blog/2011/10/11/photo-inspirations-a-blipper-profile#large)

Florence or a Machine

This little gem of a quiz, courtesy of The Guardian, asks you whether the lyric is from Ceremonials or made up by a computer. I got 6 out of 10, statistically speaking little more than guess work...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/quiz/2011/oct/24/florence-machine-lyrics-quiz

Haruki Murakami interview in The Guardian

Ah! I love the man! I really do! I have never read a book quite like The Wind Up Bird Chronicle. The plot so surreal and the characters so convincingly odd and yet natural. It is always a pleasure to read one of his interviews, especially because he so rarely gives them. I'm excited for IQ84.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/oct/14/haruki-murakami-1q84

Collecting

There is a tidy little article in The Guardian today about collecting, although  the focus is on post-war British china. The price range we're talking about is nowhere near the same league as what the big auction houses are fetching for a good bit of famille verte, although some of the wares they mention are quite pretty. Having already declared my thing for tea cups, I can assure you dear reader, that I will undoubtedly collect once I finally give up on this education malarkey and get an actual job...

Ai Weiwei and the ArtReview Power 100

Ai Weiwei is number one. Hardly surprising considering the amount the poor man was in the press this last year. Let us not forget though he had his zodiac animal heads at Somerset House, and exhibitions in both The Lisson Gallery and The Tate Modern or as Grayson Perry called it the 'Cathedral of modern art'. I particularly thought Sunflower Seeds was a very challenging work looking at the history of China's workers and its ceramics industry. Truly the most well heard Chinese voice on the international art stage.

http://www.artreview100.com/